OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: Pom Moongauklang, who recently shuttered her longtime Milk District sandwich shop and teahouse, isn't done yet ..read more

William Shen, the mind behind what is arguably Orlando's finest restaurant, Sorekara, is firmly establishing his presence in this city he's called home for a little over two years. Along with James Beard Award-nominated restaurateurs Johnny and Jimmy Tung of the Bento Group, Shen opened udon noodle house Zaru in 2023, followed this year by Sorekara and UniGirl, his onigiri shop inside Mills Market, which we reviewed favorably a couple of weeks ago. With Cowboy Curry, his latest concept slated to open in early 2025, Shen will expand his footprint inside the bustling East Colonial Drive food hu ..read more

King Bao, an Asian restaurant with three locations in the Orlando area, announced this week it will close its Winter Park eatery. The last day of business for the bao destination is Saturday, Dec. 28. “After much thought and consideration, we’ve made the decision not to renew our lease at our Winter Park location,” the store announced in an Instagram post ..read more

Portillo’s, a Chicago-style street food haven known for hot dogs and Italian sandwiches, is set to open a new location in Orlando this week. This latest hot dog hub will open at 315 North Alafaya Trail at Waterford Lakes Town Center Thursday. The 7,800-square-foot restaurant will feature seating for nearly 200 guests, an outdoor patio, a grab-and-go station and double drive-thru lanes ..read more

The Orlando Korea Festival is heading back to town with food, live music and a massive cultural celebration. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Orlando Korea Culture Center, located at 7000 Winegard Road. Guests can expect more than 35 food and drink vendors like Mr. Bulgogi, Mochinut, SoGongDong & K-BBQ, The Tea Social and plenty more ..read more

Now's the time to celebrate one of the world's most beloved forms of stuffed pastry: Get gobbling this weekend at the Orlando Empanada Festival. The fest takes place Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, at Festival Park, located at 2911 E. Robinson St., and focuses on the Latin American pastry. Guests can shop a craft market featuring more than 60 vendors, play games, enjoy live music and eat their way through 75 authentic empanada options ..read more

Epilogue, a new adult-only speakeasy pop-up, has opened its Art Deco-style doors to pour craft cocktails at Four Seasons Resort Orlando. Boasting a library-inspired theme with menus shaped like books, homages to Florida’s farming past and “unique mixology techniques,” Epilogue promises an intimate lounge experience stirred up with swanky atmosphere. Guests can order from the menu of themed drinks, which includes five classic “Prohibition-era” cocktails and eight specialty beverages that nod to the era of Gatsby and flappers ..read more

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: Wagyu shop and restaurant Palm Beach Meats Orlando has soft-opened in the old Hungry Pants space at 3421 S. Orange Ave. in SoDo. Prized cuts of Japanese beef (including Kobe) as well as Australian and domestic brands will be sold to beef connoisseurs, while a menu of burgers, cheesesteaks, sandwiches, hot dogs, burritos and, yes, steaks will be offered to restaurant patrons ..read more

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: Cowboy Curry, a new concept by chef William Shen of Sorekara, Zaru and UniGirl, will open inside Mills Market (the subject of this week's review) in the coming weeks. Shen is working on perfecting his Japanese curry recipe, which will utilize beef as its primary protein ..read more

If the thought of battling your way through an entire from-scratch Thanksgiving dinner is making your fall even more daunting, there are alternatives available. Plenty of Orlando restaurants will be open and available to take the culinary load off this year. Here are some local spots offering Thanksgiving special menus and takeout orders ..read more